^2 Aphortfms concerning Cider. 



thick skin or ///«,which will fometimes be drawn over it, as well 

 when it works after the vulgar manner, as when 'tis prefently 

 ftop'd up, with rpaceleft for fermentation, to bejperformed alto- 

 - gether within the Vcfl'el. 



Fourthly^ No Liquor is obferved to be more eafily affeded with 

 the favour of the Vcflel then Cider 5 therefore Angular care is 

 taken by difcreet Cider-Mafiers^ that the Veflel be not only tafte- 

 lefi, but alfb well prepared fot the Liquor they intend to fill it 

 with, If it be a new Cask^^ they prepare it by fcalding it with 

 IVater, wherdm a good quantity of Jpple-fomice hath been boyl- 

 ed ; If a tainted Casl{_, they have divers ways of cleanling it : Some 

 boyl an ounce of Pepper in fo much Water as will fill an Hogfhead, 

 which they let ftand in a VefTel of that capacity two or three days 5 

 then wafh it with a convenient quantity oifrejh water ^ fcalding 

 hot, which (they fay) is an undoubted cure for the mofl dange- 

 rbufly infedted VefTel. 



Fjfthljf, Others have a more eafie, and perhaps lefs effeftual re- 

 medy. They take two or three flones of qnicli^ lime^ which with 

 fix or feven Gallons of Water they fet on work in the Hogpeadsy 

 being clofe flop'd, and tumbling it up and down till the commo- 

 tion ceafe, it doth the feat. Of Vef fels that have been formerly 

 ufed, next to that which hath been already acquainted with Ci- 

 der ^ a white-wine or Vinegar Cas({, is efteemed the beft , Claret or 

 Sat\ not fo good. A Barrel to which fmall Beer hath been ten- 

 nant fuits better with Cider then a ftrong Beer VefTel. 



Half a peck of ^un-ground Wheat put to Cider that is harfh and 

 eager will renew its fermentation, and render it more mild and 

 gentle : Sometimes it happens, without the ufe of any fuch means, 

 to change with the Seafbn, and becomes of Iharp and four, un- 

 expeftedly benign and plcafant. 



Sixthly^ Two or three eggs put into an Hogpead of Cider that is 

 become fharp, and near of kin to Vinegar^ fometimes rarely lenc- 

 fies and gentilizes it. 



One pound of broad figgs (\}t is fufficient to dulcifiean Hogfiead 

 of fuch Cider. A little quantity of- Mujiard will clear an Hog^oead 

 of muddy Cider. The fame virtue is afcribed to two or three rot- 

 ten Apples put into it. 



The latter running of the Cider ^ bottled immediately from the 

 wring, is by fome efieemed for a pure, clear, fmall, well-relifh'd 

 Liquor 5 but fo much undervalued by them who defire fi:rong 

 drinks more then wholefom, that they will not fuffer it to incor- 

 porate with the firfl running. 



Seventhly^ Cider is found to ferment much better in mild and 

 moifl: then in cold and dry weather ; every ones experience hath 

 taught him fo much in the late frofty feafon 5 if it had not wrought 

 before, it was in vain to exped its working or clearing then, un- 

 lefs by fome of the artificial means prae-mentioned, which alfb 

 could not be made ufe of in a more unfcafonable time. 



The beft C/,^er-fruit with us in this part of Dorfet-Jhire (lying 

 necr to Bridport") next to Pepin and Pear main, is a hitter-Jwtiet, or, 



as 



